Running Errands

We were having a day down in Paphos running errands.  What is needed to set you up for the task is a bloody good breakfast and this was my 'small' full English from Arabica which cost a huge €3.75 and was delicious.  We had got down to Arabica good and early before the extreme heat and the even more extreme humidity wrapped us in a claustrophobic wet blanket.   Occasionally we need to put ourselves through this exercise because in the Winter when we are smothered in a rolling mist with temperatures hovering just above zero thinking how much nicer it would be to be living down near the coast we should not forget how oppressive the heat and humidity of the Summer can be - it is so much easier to get warm than to cool down (in my book anyway!!).

We had quite a bit of running around to do which included John getting his eyes tested.  Apparently, according to the optician John should count himself lucky that at his advanced age he has, as yet, not required spectacles.  He does not require them now although the optician has suggested he return in six months to check again.  Eye tests are free so that isn't a problem.  We also ran into the Mall quickly but I had realised earlier that I had left my phone at home and my shopping list for Jumbos was on it and so I had to try and remember all the things I wanted.  The big black picture frames were in stock but all of them were damaged so we plumped for the smaller ones and actually they look fine.  We called in to the nursery near to Mum's because I was looking for some plants to brighten up the border in front of Wendy and Bill corner because it looks great in the spring when the Gazania's are in full bloom but just now they look sad, tired, crispy and in some places dead.  We picked up some plants like the ones we have put in Dad's grave and some of the spreading 'ice plant' which seems to survive all conditions.  We must be the only people who have actually spent money on a pot of grass.  We wanted some for the cats because they will keep eating the ornamental one we have and the blades are razor sharp and Chivers got one stuck in his throat yesterday.  John pulled up a bit of grass from a pot and we asked Stella if she had any - she looked at us in disbelief saying it was a weed and then we explained we wanted it for the cats and she went off and found a soft feathery pot of grass which she said was specifically for cats - we shall see!!

We called in to have some lunch with Mum.  Bless her she had got some of our favourite pate in and some tomatoes and cucumber even though she does not eat them herself and she had a few bottles of ale for John to take home.  We stayed for a few hours and when we were sitting outside on the veranda for lunch suggested she got herself a comfy chair to put there so that she could sit and read there whilst it was in the shade as generally there is a nice breeze which passes through.  The mystery of why her neighbour Effie's car had been outside for days and not in the garage was solved when the roller door people came.  We had guessed that might have been the problem.

On our return home we collapsed into the pool to cool down - at times the temperature in the car had been in the upper 40s and that is pretty uncomfortable.  Once cooled down we decided to go and sit upon the roof terrace for a nice quiet drink before having some supper.  We are planning on going shopping for food tomorrow so my fridge was pretty bereft of food but I managed to cobble together some crumpets topped with bacon, caramelised onion, brie and cranberry which was abso-bloody-lutely fantastic.

Amazingly this evening we had full on 'gorillas in the mist' low cloud passing through but fortunately it did exactly that - pass through and no sooner had it come than it had gone and it left us with a cooler much nicer temperature and so we were able to sit outside and have an evening drink with Lakis and Argy and Kia.  We have had to set Lakis up with Facebook so that he can keep abreast of any changes or maintenance to his TV system, he was reluctant to get involved in social media and then started to embrace the idea - we have assured him that if we see anything that needs doing win terms of the television system we will get in touch with him and help him do whatever is necessary.  Their stay is fast coming to an end but their early return is necessary.  They have a tough time ahead so we want to make their last remaining week as pleasant as possible under the circumstances.